Seal-lock for boxes.



F. W. GOESSLING.

SEAL LOOK FOR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1915.

1 1 73, 347 Patented Feb. 29, 19 16.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

FREDERICK W. GOESSL ING, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SEAL-LOCK FOR BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Feb. 2%}, 19165.

Application filed March 5, 1915. Serial No. 12,335.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK 1V. Gonss- LING, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have in.- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks for Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in box locks and seals, and has for its object a pivotally mounted locking arm located on the interior of the box, a receiving cap located on the cover in which the locking arm enters. and a seal inserted through a space in the cap between its wall. and the edge of the locking arm.

A further object of my invention is to construct a box lock located in the interior of a box and held in locked position by a seal which must first be mutilated before the lock can be released in order to open the lid or cover.

The lock is simple and durable and has but few parts and the essential feature is the inserting of a seal in the form of a strip of metal having projecting prongs and bulged portions which when once inserted must be mutilated before the members constituting the lock can be released from their connecting position.

Figure 1, is a side view of my invention shown in locked position. Fig. 2, is a central sectional view of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the cap member forming a part of the lock. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of the bracket for supporting the locking arm. Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the lock, the cap being in section and in serted through the opening located in the box lid or cover. Fig. 6, is a plan view of the seal made use of in carrying out my invention. Fig. 7, is a side view of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 8 indicates the front side of a box such as a shipping case and 9 the lid or cover. ()n the inner surface of the front 8 is firmly attached a bracket 10, consisting of a U- shaped housing 11, having base flanges 12, one of the flanges projecting inward forming a support 13, for a spring 14, which is seated in the housing and exerting pressure against a locking arm 15.

The locking arm 15 consists of a fiat member having a hook 16 formed on its upper free end, the tooth 17, of the hook adapted to engage with the shoulder 18 of the cap 19, fixed to the cover 9. The locking arm is pivotally held in position in the housmg by a rivet 20, or the like, and is also provided with an elongated recess 21, in which one section of the spring 1% is seated, and which spring has a normal tendency to keep the locking arm in a position against the bent end 22 of the housing.

The cap 19, is preferably stamped of a sheet of material formed with a bulged potion and a flange 23 by which the cap is securely fixed to the cover 9; it may be attached beneath as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or on top as shown in Fig. 5, but in either event it is in proper relation with the opening 2 formed in the lid or cover, through which access may be had to the lock. The cap n'o .'i(led with an elongated slot 25, and a cross slot 26, the walls of the slot 25, being bent inwardly as shown by the numeral 2'7. likewise the end 28, these bent walls acting as a proper guide for the hook 16, directing it to the slot 25, should the cover become slightly shifted. The edge of the cross slot 26 is bent downwardly forming an elongated abutment 29 and against which the seal is locked when once inserted.

The seal made use of and which forms an essential part consists of a strip of metal in the form of an elongated body portion 30, one end being of narrower diameter as shown, and which end is the inserting end of the seal. This end is suitably slit, form ing prongs 31, and slightly bent outward as shown in Fig. 7. In the narrow end is also formed a bulge 82, and above it a second bulge 33. These bulges coming in a position as shown in Fig. 2, approximately against the edge of the locking arm, thereby preventing the tooth 17 of the hook from leaving the shoulder 18, of the slot. The seal when inserted must be broken oil at the point 34, on a line between the two bulges, 32 and 33. The lower end when severed will then fall into the box, clearing the slot and permitting the hook 16 to be pressed back by the fingers inserted through the opening 24.

After once inserting the seal it cannot be removed unless broken off, on account of the prongs 31, which contact with and passes over the bar 29, when raising the seal up ward, and the seal is held in position by the bulge 33, which is wider than the slot. The seal when once inserted, and in order to be out of the way and also protected is bent into the cap as shown in Fig. 2. On

the wider portion of the body the seal may be impressed the name of the shipper fOI identification purposes, as well as to prevent a false seal to be substituted after the original seal has been tampered with. On the opposite end of the wider portion of the seal is also formed a projecting bulge 35. This bulge being so arranged as to prevent the material from being shaped with the shears in order to easily insert that end of the seal in the slot.

The slot as arranged is essential in this, that when the box has been locked and the seal inserted the contents in the shipping case is secure unless the metallic seal is severed on the line as previously described, by so breaking the seal the end within the slot will drop into the box while the upper end is removed by the fingers, and as soon as this is done the lock can be opened but if another seal isinserted the consignee will immediately know that this case has been tampered with and the contents disturbed, and in that manner detect thievery.

Having fully described by invention what I claim is:

l. A seal lock for boxes comprising a'slotted cap, a lockingarm pivotally secured to the stationary portion of the shipping case and a pronged seal inserted through the slot of the cap and communicating with one edge of the locking arm to prevent the arm from being released except through mutilating the seal, substantially as specified.

2. A seal lock for shipping cases comprising a depressed cap attached to the lid ing a spring controlled locking arm, a housing in which said arm is pivotally mounted and supported, said housing being firmly fixed to the stationary portion of a shipping case; a cap having a depressed portion in which is formed a T-shaped slot and which slot is arranged at an angle by the bending of the hook end of the locking arm, said cap being secured in proper relation with an opening formed in the cover, and a metal seal divided with prongs and stiffening bulges adapted to be inserted in the slot contacting with the locking arm and preventing the release of the locking arm except by the mutilation of the seal, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. GoEssmNG.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIGKS, WALTER C. STEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i 

